This is an amazing gadget. I want this even as a Bluetooth client for my BlackBerry. I don't want the phone/ipod features -- this is an amazing Apple PDA. It's going to replace my iPaq.

Electronic notepad, bluetooth keyboards, and amazing pocket web surfing experience - just drag a finger to scroll a page around, and pinch finger to zoom in/out. And I can lean my hand on the screen while using a stylus on the iPhone screen -- it multitouch technology should ignore my wrist while detecting the pen head. All surfing through my BlackBerry's Bluetooth connection. (I am hoping that this Apple iPhone can take advantage of an external Bluetooth data connection rather than internal cellphone connection -- but knowing this is a MacOS X operating system, it probably is flexible enough.)

I can't leave BlackBerry since I need high speed thumb text input, but I simply got to have this amazing Apple PDA. It's five years ahead of a typical iPaq PDA and far smaller than a UMPC (OQO, etc). And this Apple PDA is slightly smaller than a BlackBerry 8700, to boot...

This Apple PDA would be my first Apple product -- haven't even jumped on the Mac bandwagon. I'd love to create software for it, and recompile some of my other UNIX software on it (since it is already running MacOS X!)

IMHO, sexy and cool but way overpriced. Yes, it combines a lot of the functions of a phone/BB/iPod (and nano-sized memory - max only 8GB) but at a combo price - no synergy! Plus Cingular's data plans are very expensive. If I pay that much for a phone, I want to be the one to decide which carrier to use (i.e. must be unlocked). You're busy damning your Pearls but imagine what RIM could make at a $500 price point as compared to the Pearl's $200.

First, most touch screen only typing devices have failed. People simply do not like them.

Second, it's too expensive. Their pricing is similar to that of the PDA/Phones of the old days, $500 to $600. Not a lot of people buy such devices at those prices. [And I suspect that Steve was mentioning the price WITH a new account activation. If he could have said a lower price he would have, the fine print being that the price was with a new account].

Sure it looks cool when Steve is talking about it at MacWorld, but I don't think the things are going to fly off the shelf.

Let's assume, for example, that those people who support or have an iPOD might consider the phone. Well, they just got done forking over $300 for an iPOD. I don't think these people are going to be in a rush to shelve their iPODS and fork over $500 for an iPhone. And that is not taking into account that these people probably have a phone already, so they would be tossing that too.

As to the consumer market, I don't see many of those users forking over $500 for the device. It's just too much.

And to the geek market [BBF members, for example], I don't think the iPhone is such a hot and revolutionary device that they will toss their existing units and buy the iPhone as a must have.

Yeah, everyone can get caught up in the hype at MacWorld or drool over the pretty pics, but in the end, when it comes down to paying $500 - $600 plus tax I don't think many will make the buy.

And personally, I think the touchscreen-only interface is a big mistake. People are used to and want keyboards when typing. I am actually quite surprised Apple would go with this given the list of failures where this technology has been employed.

IMHO, sexy and cool but way overpriced. Yes, it combines a lot of the functions of a phone/BB/iPod (and nano-sized memory - max only 8GB) but at a combo price - no synergy! Plus Cingular's data plans are very expensive. If I pay that much for a phone, I want to be the one to decide which carrier to use (i.e. must be unlocked). You're busy damning your Pearls but imagine what RIM could make at a $500 price point as compared to the Pearl's $200.

won't help if it is unlocked... the iphone is coupled with cinglar to offer features on the phone like selective voicemail..... tmobile won't be able to offer that for a phone they don't even have.

First, most exclusively touch screen devices have failed. People simply do not like them.

Second, it's too expensive. Their pricing is similar to that of the PDA/Phones of the old days, $500 to $600. Not a lot of people buy such devices at those prices. [And I suspect that Steve was mentioning the price WITH a new account activation. If he could have said a lower price he would have, the fine print being that the price was with a new account].

Sure it looks cool when Steve is talking about it at MacWorld, but I don't think the things are going to fly off the shelf.

Let's assume, for example, that those people who support or have an iPOD might consider the phone. Well, they just got done forking over $300 for an iPOD. I don't think these people are going to be in a rush to shelve their iPODS and fork over $500 for an iPhone. And that is not taking into account that these people probably have a phone already, so they would be tossing that too.

As to the consumer market, I don't see many of those users forking over $500 for the device. It's just too much.

And to the geek market [BBF members, for example], I don't think the iPhone is such a hot and revolutionary device that they will toss their existing units and buy the iPhone as a must have.

Yeah, everyone can get caught up in the hype at MacWorld or drool over the pretty pics, but in the end, when it comes down to paying $500 - $600 plus tax I don't think many will make the buy.

And personally, I think the touchscreen-only interface is a big mistake. People are used to and want keyboards when typing. I am actually quite surprised Apple would go with this given the list of failures where this technology has been employed.

you make some good points... but your not an apple consumer......

apple consumers have more than one powebook or mac book... These are people who spend top dollar on apple products like there hd displays and what not...

10 million units will sell out in 1 day.

it is simple...

ipod = 300
telephone = 200
500$

now say double the memory like dell commercial for 100 bucks...

$600. genius

This was the innovation i was *****ing about the other day.

The iphone will replace the ipod in 2 years..

we will see different versions of the iphone.... large and small like video and nano... wait and see.

I personally will wait for the 3rd generation... like i did with the ipod.

Your last sentence i think is the opposite....

I just had 20 people crowded around my pc to watch the updates of what the phone can do... and everyone of them said they hate the small buttons on phones.... every one!!!!

everyone should also keep in mind that this device is not in direct competition with RIM devices in my opinion. the pearl is really the first RIM device to truly crossover as a non-business device (sleek, sexy and small). and even then the features offered are arguably useful for business. this is not to say the iPhone won't sell, i just don't see them impacting the RIM market in the enterprise. also keep in mind that many corporations go with blackberry because it is blessed by federal agencies in regard to security, etc. i don't foresee any large corporation dropping their use of RIM devices in favor of an iPhone. i see it more as a personal multimedia/communication device. but not something to compare directly with a Pearl. As an example, would you call a morotola RAZR a blackberry killer? two different markets in my opinion.

the thing is complete sex. and i'm an apple hater. but that thing is awesome. this is the best that could happen for everyone - it'll drive innovation; every other manufacturer are going to make a renewed effort to drive the technology beyond the cutting edge. it's going to be an interesting few years, bill gates was right about this decade being the one where things start to take off - looking forward to how this is all going to play out over the next few years.

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the thing is complete sex. and i'm an apple hater. but that thing is awesome. this is the best that could happen for everyone - it'll drive innovation; every other manufacturer are going to make a renewed effort to drive the technology beyond the cutting edge. it's going to be an interesting few years, bill gates was right about this decade being the one where things start to take off - looking forward to how this is all going to play out over the next few years.

everyone should also keep in mind that this device is not in direct competition with RIM devices in my opinion. the pearl is really the first RIM device to truly crossover as a non-business device (sleek, sexy and small). and even then the features offered are arguably useful for business. this is not to say the iPhone won't sell, i just don't see them impacting the RIM market in the enterprise. also keep in mind that many corporations go with blackberry because it is blessed by federal agencies in regard to security, etc. i don't foresee any large corporation dropping their use of RIM devices in favor of an iPhone. i see it more as a personal multimedia/communication device. but not something to compare directly with a Pearl. As an example, would you call a morotola RAZR a blackberry killer? two different markets in my opinion.

i totally was not thinking this was in any way for business. This is a complete user phone... or a sidekick killer.

No one has come close to rim when it comes to what they do. You think apple can just pop in... i don't think so.